'Can you do percentages in your head?' poll discussion

Former_MSE_Lawrence

Poll ran 30 November-7 December 2009.

Can you do percentages in your head?

Maths and MoneySaving make a lovely couple – but how good is your money maths? If you went in a shop and saw 30% off £16.99 would you instantly know the answer?

Which of these is nearest to your situation?

A. Master-matician. Yes I can do most shop maths in seconds no probs. - 38% (5299 votes)
B. Mathematician. When I think about it I can do it. - 48% (6733 votes)
C. Sum yes sum no. I can do the easy ones. - 12% (1636 votes)
D. Zero sum game. Even with a calculator it's a struggle. - 3% (417 votes)

Voting has now closed, but you can still click 'post reply' to discuss below. Thanks

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shellsuit

I voted B.

I always do it with 10%, so in the example above, I'd do 10% off then times it by 3.

Where there is a 5%, I still working it out using 10%, then halve it.

If it's something else, for example, 33%, then I'd find it a little difficult to do it in my head so I'd just do 30% and know I'd be saving a little more extra too.

freyasmum

When it comes to working out the cheapest product/best value, I can do the maths in seconds :cool: :rotfl:

mazza111

Percentages no problem, estimating my shopping trolley on the way round never works, i'm sure the supermarket fairies put stuff in there without me adding it

ScarletBea

shellsuit wrote: »

I voted B.

I always do it with 10%, so in the example above, I'd do 10% off then times it by 3.

Same here

zygurat789

I've been a number cruncher for years so it's no problem - it's only practice. I new a bloke who could add up pounds(up to thousands) shillings and pence all at one go and get it right!

richardw

My favourites are wrong maths in supermarkets, ie can of beans for 42p or 4 can multipack for £1.74, er no thanks.

nearlyrich

richardw wrote: »

My favourites are wrong maths in supermarkets, ie can of beans for 42p or 4 can multipack for £1.74, er no thanks.

We always seem to spot the none bargains too LOL not what Tesco want to hear I am sure;)

Derbyshire9999

I grew up with £SD and found it very difficult to work out %s in the pre- calculator days. Though I always knew there were 100 shillings in a Fiver, I didn't have one until I was 18. It is so much easier nowadays. For the above example, round it up to £17.00 and then, shift the decimal point. 10% is £1.70 , 3 times that is the discount of £5.40 approx.

Derbyshire9999

Whoops ! That should of course be £5.10p !!

worbikeman

I did A-level maths at school (failed) - 2 years of simultaneous and quadratic equations, integral and differential calculus. Still dont know what they're for. I was alright until they started using letters instead or numbers. The only thing I need maths for in real life is shopping and playing darts.:rotfl: